NEWS

UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) fees are set to increase in April 2018 following the conclusion of a recent government consultation. The UKIPO fee structure is attractive in that it offers a comparatively low-cost route to securing patent protection. The proposals will see a range of increases for electronic (online) patent applications (paper application charges may be higher still) and will involve increases to application fees, search fees, examination and some renewal fees; and the introduction of excess claims fees and excess page fees. Specific changes will include:

Application fees will increase to £60; an additional 25% surcharge will be payable if the fee is not paid at the time of filing

Search fees will increase to £150 and excess claims fee of £20 for the 26th and any subsequent claims will be payable

Examination fees will increase to £100 and an excess page fee of £10 for each of the 36th and subsequent pages will be payable

Renewal fees will increase by £10 for years 12 onwards

More information on the government’s patent fee consultation is available by clicking here.

The report was commissioned by the UK Intellectual Property Office to understand why companies do not consider the hidden financial value of their

intangible assets and particularly intellectual property (IP) on a more routine basis. The report, undertaken by IP specialist Inngot, seeks to understand the key aspects of the UK market for valuing IP and provides a range of useful insights into how companies go about identifying and unlocking the value in their IP assets.